almost broken off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost broken off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly detached or on the verge of breaking away from its original position. Example: "The branch was almost broken off after the storm, swaying dangerously in the wind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Negotiations commenced, but were almost broken off when a member of Nasr's entourage, an embittered son of Ibn Surayj, attacked and killed al-Kirmani.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"He almost broke off with you," Susan Katz told Kravinsky.

The New Yorker

An area of ice thought to weigh almost 500 billion tonnes has broken off the Antarctic continent and shattered into thousands of icebergs in one of the most dramatic examples yet of the effects of climate change.

The Guardian

Unlike the relatively fragile Sega Saturn, the N64 has almost no parts that can be broken off or jammed by little fingers.

Los Angeles Times

Some of these have been broken off in chunks, one almost back to the wood framing.

The New York Times

And my colleague Jason Kincaid actually almost broke it off when he thought that was the way you get to the battery.

TechCrunch

Legal experts said the government would almost certainly first break off a manageable piece of the case involving potential witnesses to broader aspects of the collapse.

The New York Times

The president has long been an avid practitioner of personal diplomacy, and here in Lima he seems almost sorry to break off some of his relationships.

The New York Times

it's almost impossible to break off at 15 minutes". Do psychics realize early in life that they are psychics?

Los Angeles Times

Although Mr Bashir has stated publicly that the north will not stop the south if it wants to break off, almost nobody in the north can bring himself to contemplate the probability that, in less than a year, the country will be dismembered and broken into two.

The Economist

It usually succeeds quickly, causing the polymer chain to break off almost as soon as it starts growing, thereby creating the short-chain -olefin.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost broken off" to describe situations where a physical object or a less tangible entity (like a relationship or negotiation) has nearly reached a state of complete separation. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is on the verge of being detached.

Common error

Avoid using "almost broken off" in contexts where 'interrupted' or 'ceased' would be more appropriate. For example, do not say "The conversation was almost broken off" when you mean "The conversation was interrupted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost broken off" typically functions as a descriptive modifier within a sentence. Ludwig AI shows that it describes the state of something nearing separation. It often specifies to what extent an entity has approached complete disconnection, whether physically or figuratively.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

9%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost broken off" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe something that has nearly separated or terminated. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, with a neutral formality level. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the context and ensure that it clearly indicates what is nearing separation. Alternatives such as "nearly detached" or "on the verge of detaching" can be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly detached

Indicates a state of being close to separation, emphasizing the proximity to detachment.

virtually separated

Highlights the closeness to complete separation, suggesting only a minor connection remains.

on the verge of detaching

Emphasizes the imminence of separation, portraying the action as about to happen.

close to being severed

Focuses on the potential for a clean break, highlighting the almost complete cut.

practically disconnected

Suggests a state where the connection is so weak it's as good as not being connected.

almost came apart

Describes the potential for disintegration, focusing on the act of falling to pieces.

nearly disjointed

Emphasizes the loss of proper alignment or connection, nearing complete separation.

on the point of breaking

Highlights the specific action of breaking, almost reaching the point of snapping.

virtually uncoupled

Focuses on the state of being freed from a coupling, almost entirely disconnected.

about to be dislodged

Suggests an imminent forceful removal or displacement, nearly detached.

FAQs

How can I use "almost broken off" in a sentence?

You can use "almost broken off" to describe a physical object or a relationship that is close to being completely separated or terminated. For example: "The branch was "nearly detached" from the tree trunk."

What is a synonym for "almost broken off"?

Synonyms for "almost broken off" include "nearly detached", "on the verge of detaching", or "virtually separated" depending on the specific context.

What does "almost broken off" imply?

"Almost broken off" implies that something is very close to being completely separated or terminated, but the separation has not yet fully occurred. It suggests a precarious state where the final separation is imminent.

Is it correct to say "the negotiations almost broke off"?

Yes, it is correct. Saying "the negotiations almost broke off" indicates that the negotiations were very close to being terminated but ultimately continued. Alternatives could be "the negotiations "nearly collapsed"" or "the negotiations were "on the verge of failure"".